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Compassion Begins...and Ends |
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He slowly approaches his fallen foe
As tension fills
the air,
And he warily scrutinizes
The crumpled figure
lying there.
He remembers stern warnings
About
booby traps he's received,
But he's young and
inexperienced
And he doesn't quite believe...
The
other man is still breathing,
He can see the chest fall
and rise;
His own breath stops in his throat
And sweat
stings his eyes.
He sees the blood staining the
ground
And hears a soft, pained moan;
Compassion wills
him to aid this kid
As though he were one of his own.
His rifle wavers, then lowers
As pity conquers his
fear,
Then the enemy's eyes open wide...
And they are
cold and clear.
The GI's rifle swings back up
As
he whispers for his mother,
Realizing the mistake he's
made
And that he'll never make another. |
By
Thurman P. Woodfork
Copyright 2004 / Revised 2006
Listed
January 12, 2011 |
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